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[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

An embezzler is SO sorry she took the money, even the prosecutor is impressed. We'll hear from both of them tonight.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And hear a few words from OxyContin suspect, Doctor Cecil Knox, as he's released on 200-thousand dollars bond.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - Marcus Vick picks the Hokies.
UVa's Elton Brown is making a name for himself as a freshman
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Keith Robinson is named the new head football coach at Lord Botetourt.
(------------)

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 25:22-25:30]
[IN Q=She made a lot of impact...]
((SHE MADE A LOT OF IMPACT ON KIDS OVER THE YEARS AND PEOPLE WANNA SEE HER BACK WORKING WITH THEM AGAIN.))
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=working with them again.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :09]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Fincastle stands behind one of its own as she faces conviction for embezzlement.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Betty Jo McNeil today took responsibility for her actions.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A Botetourt County woman is walking the straight and narrow after admitting to embezzling from a local equestrian club.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Betty Jo McNeil today reached a plea bargain that will keep her out of prison and put her back on the right track.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'd just like to say I'm sorry...]
[SUPER=01-Betty Jo McNeil/Defendent; :00]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle; :16]
[SUPER=01-Charlie Phillips/McNeil's Attorney; :23]
[SUPER=04-September 2001; :39]
[SUPER=01-Joel Branscom/Commonwealth's Attorney; :53]
[SUPER=@Shannon1; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=see her in the system again.]
(([SOT 16:09-16:17]
[IN Q=I'd just like to say...]
((BETTY JO MCNEIL/DEFENDENT: I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I'M SORRY THIS HAPPENED. IT'S VERY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR ME AND I THINK THE DEPRESSION HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.))
[RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=had a lot to do with it.]
Betty Jo McNeil couldn't hold back tears while telling her story to Botetourt County Circuit Court Judge George Honts.
She blamed her actions in summer 2001 on depression and a loss of faith in her marriage and herself.
[SOT 23:08-23:14]
[IN Q=She was really just... uh...]
((CHARLES PHILLIPS/MCNEIL'S ATTORNEY: SHE WAS REALLY JUST, UH, HAD A BREAKING POINT, AN EMOTIONAL BREAKING POINT.))
[RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=an emotional breaking point.]
In January 1999, McNeil started skimming money from a local 4-H club for which she was treasurer.
Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom says she'd had every intention of paying the money back.
But a year and half later McNeil broke under the pressure and skipped town, leaving a more than 4-thousand dollar imbalance on the club's books.
3-weeks after being reported missing, the then 45-year old turned herself over to authorities in Orange County.
[SOT 24:09-24:14]
[IN Q=Once she was caught she did everything...]
((JOEL BRANSCOM/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: ONCE SHE WAS CAUGHT SHE DID EVERYTHING SHE COULD TO MAKE IT RIGHT AS FAST AS SHE COULD.))
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=as fast as she could.]
Because of her clean criminal history and obvious remorse, Judge Honts accepted a plea in which McNeil admitted guilt to a misdemeanor charge of embezzling less than 200 dollars.
She was given a suspended jail term, one year probation, 100 hours of community service and counseling.
She's also paid back the 4-H club and is now working with the group as a consultant.
[SOT 24:48-24:57]
[IN Q=She's got a misdemeanor conviction...]
((JOEL BRANSCOM/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: SHE'S GOT A MISDEMEANOR CONVICTION FOR EMBEZZLEMENT, SHE'S GOT SOME COMMUNITY SERVICE TO DO AND SOME PROBATION TO PULL BUT, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE HER IN THE SYSTEM AGAIN.))
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=in the system again.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=Betty Jo McNeil]
Branscom says he received an unusual number of letters supporting McNeil.
He says even *he* was impressed by her willingness to take responsibility.

[Knox]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-03 TC18:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Cecil Knox got out of jail today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
He's the pain specialist arrested last week in what the government says was a prescription drug conspiracy that spanned at least the last six years and served more than 800 patients.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:31:45]
[IN Q=Do you actively]
((DR. CECIL KNOX/ROANOKE PHYSICIAN: DO YOU ACTIVELY HAVE 800 OR MORE PATIENTS? MORE, I GUESS. IS THAT A LOT? IT'S A BUSY PRACTICE. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GO TAKE CARE OF THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Cecil Knox/Roanoke Physician]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=what we need to do is go take care of them.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Under the terms of his release, the 52-year old physician must refer all his patients to another doctor and immediately stop writing any more prescriptions. The indictment returned Friday alleges Knox prescribed OxyContin "outside the scope of professional practice."
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=Knox]
His attorney plans to appeal the conditions of Knox' release. As it is now, Knox has a ten-day transition period to essentially shut down his practice and then have no further contact with his nurse, Beverly Boone, until trial. Defense Attorney Tony Anderson fears: "people are going to die," and he predicts people will sue Doctor Knox and the federal government if that happens.

[XGR-Unemployment]

The economic health of southside and southwest Virginia dominated the debate today, as the State Senate approved legislation that would help unemployed workers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Introduced by Martinsville Senator Roscoe Reynolds, the measure would eliminate the one week waiting period for unemployment benefits.
He argued that workers in southside and southwest should receive the same consideration that employees in northern Virginia received after September 11th.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:17:06]
[IN Q=This tragedy occurs]
((SEN. ROSCOE REYNOLDS/(D) MARTINSVILLE; THIS TRAGEDY OCCURS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. IT OCCURS IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, IN HENRY COUNTY AND RUSSELL COUNTY, AND ALL ACROSS VIRGINIA MR. PRESIDENT.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Roscoe Reynolds/(D) Martinsville]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=all across Virginia Mr. President.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Chesterfield Delegate John Watkins argued that the proposal could jeopardize the State Unemployment Trust Fund, but the Senate approved the measure 22 to 16.

(( Things are rolling in the Roanoke Valley. And America is taking notice.
In fact, Expansion Management Magazine has awarded Roanoke one of America's 50 hottest cities for manufacturing, expansion and relocation.
Phil Sparks and his staff are responsible for dozens of business recruitments.
[tc:00:33:43]
((PHIL SPARKS/RVEDP: THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT SECOND TIER AUTOMOTIVE. ELECTRO-OPTICS.WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF VERY POSITIVE PRESS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE GREATER ROANOKE REGION.))
[RUNS10]

Legg Mason is also taking notice.
The firm has entrusted these local brokers to pour 140 Million dollars into the Valley.
It's merchant banking division plans to buy into mid-size, non-public manufacturing and service companies and help them quadruple profits.
[SOT]
[TC:00:41:48]
((BRAIN GOTTSTEIN: OUR SOUL PURPOSE IS TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT TO MAKE THESE COMPANIES BIGGER AND STRONGER OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, GENERALLY FIVE YEARS. AND IN THAT TIME WE ARE OFTEN CREATING MORE JOBS AND HIRING MORE PEOPLE.))
[RUNS14]

Legg Mason would buy a 51 percent controlling stake in each company, keep current management in tact and the company itself in the Valley.
[STANDUP]
[tc:00:49:27]
((JENNIFER MIELE/REPORTING: THE THINGS THAT MAKE ROANOKE ATTRACTIVE FOR RELOCATING AND GROWING A BUSINESS ARE THE SAME... ACCESSIBLE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, GOOD LABOR POOL FOR EXAMPLE. AND THE SUCCESS OF THE ROANOKE VALLEY IS VERY PERSONAL TO THESE BUSINESS LEADERS.))
[RUNS13]
[TC:00:40:55]
((PAUL HIGGINS/LEGG MASON ROANOKE: FOR MY CHILD, 20, 25 YEARS FROM NOW, I WANT IT TO BE THE FIRST THING ON HIS MIND: I CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK TO ROANOKE.))
[RUNS06]

And that would be worth a cover story.
Jennifer Miele, News 7.))
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Roanoke Republicans get ready to pick their candidates for May's council election.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

That's just one of the stories still ahead on News 7 at Six.
(XXXXXXX)
[LIVE=JoeD Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]
(JoeD does live tease)

Recent cases of animal cruelty in western Virginia are receiving attention here in Richmond. I'm Joe Dashiell and I'll have more from the General Assembly in a moment.
(----------------)

Spurred by two acts of animal cruelty in western Virginia, state lawmakers have approved legislation that would make it a felony to torture and kill a pet dog or cat.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Identical bills have now passed the House and Senate,
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon-Keith & JoeD/State Microwave;]
and, as Joe Dashiell reports, the proposal should soon be headed for the governor's desk
[LIVE=JoeD /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

The state senate followed the House of Delegates lead... and approved the animal cruelty legislation without opposition.
[EDWARDS 14:12:18]
[IN Q=we've gotten...]
((WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF MAIL ON THIS. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OUTRAGED AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED. PEOPLE LOVE THEIR DOGS AND CATS, THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS AND I THINK THIS WILL PROTECT THEM.))
[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=this will protect them.]

The legislation won't help Renee Fulcher whose english setter T-Bone was shot and killed by a neighbor two years ago in Franklin County... or Karen Johnson, the Saltville resident whose boxer named Max was dragged to his death behind a pick-up truck last June... but their experiences helped to persuade lawmakers.
[SOT 14:06:44]
[IN Q=When someone comes along]
((WHEN SOMEONE COMES ALONG AND DOES SOME HEINOUS THING TO TORTURE AND KILL THAT ANIMAL, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY SERIOUS. YOU CAN BOUNCE A CHECK FOR MORE THAN 200 DOLLARS AND IT'S A FELONY, BUT YET YOU CAN KILL WHAT AMOUNTS TO SOMEBODY'S BELOVED PET, AND ESSENTIALLY GET A SLAP ON THE WRIST, SO I WAS VERY PLEASED THIS LEGISLATION PASSED.))
[RUNS:23]
[OUT Q=pleased this legislation passed.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=JoeD /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Another bill in the spotlight today was the measure allowing pharmacists and doctors to dispense morning after pills to prevent pregnancy.
The legislation won approval today on the floor of the Senate.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & JoeD/State Microwave;]

But Keith and Shannon it was effectively killed, when a House committee rejected identical legislation.

[MeadWestvaco]

The merger between Westvaco and Mead could mean pink slips for about 50 workers in Covington.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Covington/August;]

Mead-Westvaco plans to close its Covington Research and Development facility by the middle of the year as part of a restructuring plan.
The research center employs 50 scientists, engineers and support workers.
Some will be offered jobs at other Mead-Westvaco research facilities; some will get a severance package.
The Covington mill also plans to cut about 100 jobs this year. The company says most will be through attrition -- not layoffs.
(------------)

[General-Electric]

Cutbacks could be looming at General Electric in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Company officials said today they are taking a close look at factory loads to see if there are too many or not enough people on the job.
G-E says it may approach qualified workers about taking early retirement.
The company plans to have an informational meeting with employees next week.
(------------)

[Optical-Cable]

Optical Cable stock took another pounding today .. falling another 19 cents, or 17 per cent. It closed at 90 cents a share.
The price started falling as soon as larger fiber optic company, Ciena, warned its first-quarter losses would be greater than first expected.

[Magnox]

Union workers at the New River Valley's Magnox plant continue to camp outside the facility.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]
Workers say officials locked them out when they refused a new contract that cut vacation time and raised medical premiums.
The Pulaski location produces materials for video and audio tapes.
A PACE union representative says employees were willing to work during negotiations but that the company won't even come to the table.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:22:27]
[IN Q=we proposed a]
((LJ ROSE/PACE UNION REPRESENTATIVE; WE PROPOSED A HARMONY CLAUSE WHICH SAYS THE PARTIES WILL WORK TOGETHER TRY TO CREATE HARMONY AND PEACE BUT THEY WOULDN'T EVEN AGREE TO THAT AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T EVEN COST THEM ANYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-L. J. Rose/Union Representative;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=THEM ANYTHING]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The union says salaried workers have been brought in to replace their people.
Magnox officials released a statement saying finances are forcing them to make internal cost reductions.
They would like cooperation from employees on health and vacation issues.
This is the fifth day off the job for union employees.... they say they're prepared to picket in shifts for the long term.
(------------)

[Promo]

Three seats are up for grabs in the May election for Roanoke City Council.
And Republicans see it as a prime opportunity to break the Democrat's hold on council.
[***NEWS 7 GENERIC MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Jean/MB Set;]

Shannon, tonight Roanoke Republicans hold a contested race of their own.
They have four candidates vying for three nominations.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

Jack Parrott, a council member from 1994 to 1998, is trying to make a comeback.
Mark Hurley, a former restaurant owner who now runs a community youth program, has thrown his hat in the ring.
Financial consultant Paul Higgins and Stephen Mabry, a Director of Operations at St. Andrew's Church, are also in the running.
(--------------)
[***NEWS 7 GENERIC MB GRAPHIC***]
[LIVE= Jean/FULL MB SET]

The Republican mass meeting begins tonight at 6:30 at the Patrick Henry Hotel.
On News-7 at 11, we'll tell you who the G-O-P's top three picks are --
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Jean/MB Set;]
and what's at stake in this year's election.

[S-Elton]

The Virginia men's basketball team, which play NC State tomorrow night, in Raleigh has put four freshman on the floor at times this season.
But perhaps no one in Wahoo colors is shining brighter in his first year than forward Elton Brown. Steve Mason tells us that Elton is already in the top 10.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Elton Brown/UVa Freshman Forward; :19]
[SUPER=01-Brigitte Hoyer/UVa Freshman; :28]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :49]
[SUPER=01-John Steck/UVa Junior; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=.....News 7 sports"]
(-------------)
((Through the first week of February, freshman Elton Brown was averaging about 10 points and nearly four rebounds a game, even more impressive is that he put up those numbers in just 16 minutes a game. But Brown is famous in Charlottesville for his arm clapping after hitting three point bombs.
((:))
((:))
((STEVE MASON:))
((:))
((:))
While Elton has a good time with his new friends in U-Hall, he is quite serious about improving. The 6'9' forward had been named ACC rookie of the week twice before February.
((:))
Brown also connects on half of his three point shots. Steve Mason News 7 sports.))
(----------)

[S-FFE]

Friday Football Extra will have another new coach next season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Friday Football Extra; :00]
At Lord Botetourt high school, Keith Robinson, has been selected as the new head football coach for the Cavaliers.
The formal appointment should come Thursday night at the school board meeting.
Robinson been an assistant coach an offensive coordinator at Botetourt the past three seasons.
The Radford grad who is a popular choice among returning players replaces Tony Hart.
He is the third former Glenvar assistant under coach Brian Hooker to get a head coaching job this off-season.
(------------)

[S-Daytona]

The Countdown to Daytona is well underway and it appears that time has already run out on the KMart Corporation.

Today the financially strapped retail giant has asked a bankruptcy courts permission to get out of its sponsorship agreement with the Daytona 500.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL; :00]
Besides sponsoring two cars on the Winston Cup circuit, had also agreed to pay Daytona one and half million dollars for this year and next to be the official mass retailer of the Daytona 500.
A judge will rule on the case February 13th, just four days before the 500.
Kmart says that spending money on NASCAR right now is an unnecessary use of much-needed cash.
(------------)

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]

The Roanoke Express will be a little shorthanded on the blue line.
Duncan Dalmao was called up today by the Norfolk Admirals.
Dalmao leads ECHL defenseman in scoring with 16 goals in 49 games.